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Boon Heong hungry for success

Tan Boon Heong has given up chasing a seeding for the Olympic Games later this year and will instead concentrate on getting his form back.

The former world junior champion, who was once ranked No. 1 in the world with Koo Kien Keat, has not won an OSIM BWF World Superseries title since the Malaysia Open more than two years ago.

In that time, Boon Heong-Kien Keat have only won the Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold while other players have surpassed them in the world order, which now sees them ranked eighth in the world.

The 24-year-old from Kedah, a state in the north of Malaysia won the world junior title with Hoon Thien How in 2004, but the pair were split up prior to the 2006 Asian Games with then men’s doubles coach Rexy Mainaky deciding to team Boon Heong up with Kien Keat.

It proved to be a brilliant decision with the duo (above), going on to win the gold medal and following that up by grabbing the All England title in early 2007.

The pair then went on to reach No. 1 in the world rankings but since then, have suffered some poor results.

“It has been a while since we have won a big title and now our focus is on the Olympics,” said Boon Heong, who is now playing in the Axiata Cup

“Earlier this year, we were chasing a top four seeding for the Olympics and were under unnecessary pressure to perform.

“As a result, we didn’t have any good results. Now, we know it will be difficult to finish among the top four so we can be more relaxed.

“Hopefully, this will help us in our quest to win a title or two before the Olympics.”

The pair will compete in the India Open next month, the last Superseries tournament before the end of the Olympic qualifying period.